After yesterday's multimedia orgy I cruised back down the Red Line to E3 at the LA Convention Center for more eye candy and sonic assault.
This time I started out in Electronic Arts' "booth" - at the heart of which is a huge 360-degree theater. Nine high-def digital projectors feed a single circular screen, making a seamless image across which EA's game trailers play non-stop.
A crystalline multi-thousand-watt sound system pumps roars, orchestral scores, cannon fire, flak attacks and screaming sports fans' voices into the room. The entire floor is one huge subwoofer that booms and vibrates with every punch, gunshot and explosion ...
The instinct is to stand there and turn slowly, trying to take everything in - which is just what I did. Staggeringly cool experience. (See video clips below)
I stumbled out after a while and wandered the floor, shooting a few more photos and played some games. Hellgate: London is a slick-as-hell first-person demon-fighter for the PC. Your mission is to go forth into a damned city, summoning weak-minded demons to help you fight of hordes of zombies, monsters and worse. Crisp graphics, and lush environments - very nice work.
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures lets you engage in some wicked swordplay on behalf of the barbarian king. Kudos to the choreography developers who have broadsword combat down cold, and even throw in some nasty death blows. Not for kids, that one.
The one I'm looking forward to playing on XBox (as soon as I've saved up enough for a 360) is Lost Planet: Extreme Condition - a Half-Life-like FPS: Infested by aliens that are sapping its geothermal energy, the earth has turned to a frigid wasteland - you're running through the snow, picking up weapons left by your fallen comrades and trying to waste the nasties before they eat you. Extra fun to be had in a climb-aboard walking-tank fitted with dual gatling guns.
Everywhere around you, the sound of joy and criticism - "Oh, that's AWESOME" and "The graphics on that one sucked." Guys hitting on booth babes, one of whom replied rather brusquely, "I'm not just a model." Handshakes and cordial chats, and people disappearing into meeting rooms in booths above the raucous show floor for meetings on the next titles to come.
I'm a glutton for punishment: I'll be back tomorrow, though this time just for fun. Blogging it's just cutting into my game time. I'm a geek. So sue me.
Below are three video clips showing the Electronic Arts trailer theater setup:
This clip shows a look around the theater while the trailer for Will Wright's much-anticipated SPORE is playing.
This clip was shot during the trailer for EA Sports.
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This clip takes in another chunk of EA's full-surround experience. Some of the best footage in the trailers comes from Medal of Honor: Airborne - it feels as though you're parachuting through an air-raid amid anti-aircraft fire.
XBox 360 recycled their sleek booth from last year.
Huge gun. I have no idea what this is for.
EA's circular theater, during the trailer for Will Wright's much-anticipated SPORE
Booth babes pose for souvenir snapshots and shill for Nokia's N-Gage game phone.
N-Gage's booth all decked out in white plastic and orange leather. Note the mist screens showing white dancing silhouettes.
The Powerpuff Girls! I've always had a deep respect for actors who work all day stuffed inside foam heads and thick costumes like these. They had a handler who had to lead them from one spot to another like children so they wouldn't bump into anything. I'm guessing visibility inside there is fairly limited.
Microsoft's XBox360 booth featured these gamepods for test-driving Prey.
Sleeping it off. Every year I see a few of these poor guys slumped around the hall. Just too damn much fun.
The immortal Space Ghost cracks up the crowd while interviewing conventiongoers from the GameTap booth.
Swordswomen, between poses with gamers. Note the glassy-eyed stare.
Tough girls. Not to be trifled with. Anyone know what they were promoting?
